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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $312 million, 6.2% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 83,641 males fit for military service: 48,559 males reach military age (18) annually: 2,918 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

115,000 (1993)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

service throughout country is adequate for present needs; international service good to adjacent Malaysia domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

76,900 (1993)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1984 est.)

Televisions [time series]

78,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo, pigs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.1 billion expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $427 million (1993)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview [time series]

The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for more than 40% of GDP. Per capita GDP is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 380,000 kW production: 1.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,971 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.4214 (January 1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Exports [time series]

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products partners: Japan 50%, UK 19%, Thailand 10%, Singapore 9% (1994 est.)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $4.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3% industry: 42% services: 55%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$15,800 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 5% (1994 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

12.9% (1987)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

119,000 (1993 est.); note - includes members of the Army by occupation: government 47.5%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 41.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.8% (1986) note: 33% of labor force is foreign (1988)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.8% (1994 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 5,770 sq km land area: 5,270 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline [time series]

161 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 381 km border country: Malaysia 381 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 79% other: 18%

Location [time series]

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Terrain [time series]

flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Capital [time series]

Bandar Seri Begawan

Constitution [time series]

29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador JAYA bin Abdul Latif chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0159

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967) is a traditional Islamic monarch cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers is composed chiefly of members of the royal family, appointed and presided over by the sultan; deals with executive matters

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 342-0158

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[673] (2) 225293

Flag [time series]

yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Independence [time series]

1 January 1984 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the sultan for a three-year term

Legal system [time series]

based on Islamic law

Legislative branch (Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)) [time series]

elections last held in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 23 February (1984)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity Party (the first legal political party and now banned), leader NA; Brunei Peoples Party (banned), leader NA

Legislative branch (Privy Council) [time series]

is appointed by the sultan; deals with constitutional matters the Council of Succession: is appointed by the sultan; determines the succession to the throne if the need arises

Legislative branch (Religious Council) [time series]

is appointed by the sultan; advises on religious matters

Suffrage [time series]

none

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

constitutional sultanate

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Theresa A. TULL embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP 96440 telephone: [673] (2) 229670

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 51,266; female 49,194) 15-64 years: 62% (male 98,806; female 88,323) 65 years and over: 5% (male 6,843; female 5,507) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

25.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.39 years male: 69.82 years female: 73.04 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian

Net migration rate [time series]

5.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

299,939 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.56% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.24 male(s)/female all ages: 1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.39 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 2 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Heliports [time series]

3 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,443 km paved: 1,296 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1993)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT (1994 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km

Ports [time series]

Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong

Railways [time series]

total: 13 km private line narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m